After flirting with the aloof prince, the concubine ran away pregnant.

A-Bian was so startled that his hand trembled, and he almost dropped the soup bowl. He quickly lowered his head, arranged the food, and fled as if he were escaping.

Smelling the aroma of food, Afu, who had just been as weak as a salted fish, finally regained some strength.

Xie Xun untied the ribbon from her wrist, stood up, and said calmly, "Eat."

Afu limped to the table, didn't even look at him, picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.

However, she couldn't muster any strength in her right hand, so she had no choice but to use her left hand to hold the chopsticks.

But his left hand was clearly not very obedient; it took a lot of effort to pick up a piece of food with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

Xie Xun walked over and was about to reach for the chopsticks on the table when he noticed that Afu's left hand had already picked up the soup spoon.

He ate quickly, one spoonful at a time.

Xie Xun: "..."

He withdrew his hand, picked up the teacup on the table, and sat down opposite her.

Watching her puff out her cheeks and finish the whole bowl of rice.

Unconsciously, a smile crept onto the corners of his mouth, a smile he himself was unaware of.

After Afu finished eating and left, Xie Xun's face finally darkened. He ordered Changsong, "Investigate how Afu got the injury on her arm last night."

"That's clearly a knife wound, and the cut is evenly wide from front to back, indicating it was intentionally done!"

·

After Afu returned to the side room, the medicated oil on her knees had been almost completely absorbed by her skin, leaving only a thin layer of oily sheen.

After taking a bath, Afu changed into a clean and soft cotton undergarment, leaned against the headboard, and let Baizhi use a dry cloth to wipe her wet long hair.

The moisture in my hair carried the fresh scent of soap, and the pain in my knees eased considerably, replaced by a persistent, dull ache.

There was a gentle knock on the door. Bai Zhi opened it, and Ning Su Niangzi walked in carrying a bundle, her face filled with unconcealed worry.

She walked quickly to the bedside as soon as she entered the room, looking Afu up and down: "I heard you were punished, are you alright?"

Afu tried to get out of bed, but Ning Su pressed down on her shoulder: "Don't move, just sit."

She went to the table and poured two glasses of warm water, handing one to Afu and sitting down on the footstool by the bed with the other glass in her hand.

Afu took the water, drank a sip, and shook her head with a wry smile: "Anyway, it's nothing, it's just that I knelt all night, and my legs are a bit numb."

Ning Su breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that you're alright, otherwise it would have been a waste for all the clothes I worked so hard to alter."

She gestured with her chin towards Bai Zhi, who took the bundle, opened it, and hung the altered clothes on the hanger.

The light blue and pale yellow fabrics gleamed with a warm luster, brightening up the simple maid's room considerably.

Looking at the clothes, Afu couldn't help but say, "These clothes are indeed beautiful; no wonder they can arouse jealousy."

Ning Su glanced at it as well, her tone carrying a hint of knowing wisdom: "Clothes are a woman's dignity in the inner quarters, and also a sign of favor. How can they not be important?"

Afu smiled but didn't reply.

Ning Su didn't say anything more, folded the bundle and put it aside, then changed the subject: "By the way, it might be a month before I can make you clothes again. I have to go back to Yunxiu Manor. This year, the sect is planning to recruit disciples, and I need to go back and help out for a while."

Afu's heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "How old should the disciples be?"

Ning Su said, "Ages eight to twelve."

Afu lightly traced the rim of the glass with her fingers, as if casually asking, "Any requests?"

She had learned about girls' schools when she inquired about them with Azhen. Among the places where embroiderers, cooks, and people from all walks of life took on apprentices, Yunxiu Manor was the most like a proper school. Not only could one learn a craft, but one could also learn to read. However, one had to live in the manor for a long time.

This might be a challenge for other children, but it couldn't be better for A-Zhen.

If the child continues to stay at his aunt's house, he'll probably get really bored.

"Simple embroidery is fine, it doesn't have to be fancy, just enough to show some talent," Ning Su said, taking a sip of her water.

Afu put down her water glass, took out the kitten-shaped purse from under her pillow, and handed it to Ning Su: "Ning Su, take a look at this."

Ning Su took it, examined it twice, ran her fingers along the stitches, and nodded slightly: "The stitches are still a bit rough, but the thread is steady, and the color scheme is thoughtful. How old is this child?"

Afu said, "Eight years old."

Ning Su returned the purse to her and handed her a purse with the character "秀" on it, saying, "You can give it a try. The exam starts on the eighth day of next month. Just bring her and say that I recommended her."

Afu took the purse and smiled, "Okay, thank you, my lady."

A strong, bitter medicinal smell suddenly wafted into the air, along with a faint hint of blood.

Bai Zhi walked to the door, lifted the curtain and peeked outside, then came back, pursing her lips: "It's Granny Wen and Doctor Lu, they went towards the main house."

She lowered the curtain and added in a low voice, "It was merely used as a medicinal ingredient for the young master. My sister also has a cold yin constitution. If it weren't for Granny Wen sending her away that day, who knows whose credit and favor would have gone?"

Afu paused slightly in her hand holding the water glass: "Cold Yin constitution?"

She turned her head to look at Bai Zhi, "I thought any woman's blood would be fine."

Bai Zhi shook her head, her expression serious: "Of course not. At the time, my sister was injured and unconscious, so she didn't know. Doctor Lu said that both my sister's blood and Miss Tao Yao's blood would work, but my sister has a congenital cold yin constitution, so the medicine would actually be more effective."

Afu's gaze fell on the new wound under her sleeve. Through the cloth, the wound was still faintly swollen.

These things seem to be gradually becoming clearer.

She paused for a moment, then asked, "This blood... is it dripped in on the fifteenth of every month?"

Bai Zhi thought for a moment and nodded: "That's right. This is the second time Miss Tao Yao has cut her wrist to donate blood, and the young master's health has improved a lot."

Afu put the water glass on the table, and then she remembered the dried bloodstains on Wang Pozi's sleeve in the Buddhist hall and the words "Don't talk too much if you shouldn't."

But Tao Yao herself has a cold yin constitution, so why would she risk taking her blood?

She wanted to think about it some more, but Ning Su had already stood up, finished the last sip of water in her glass, and put the glass down: "You're tired too, I'm leaving now."

Afu then came to her senses and quickly straightened up: "Okay, then I won't see you off. See you on the eighth of next month."

Ning Su smiled, walked to the door, and then looked back at her: "If the clothes don't fit, come find me again."

After she finished speaking, she pushed open the door and went out. The curtain fell, and the room became quiet again. Afu leaned against the headboard, but her thoughts were not at peace.

An absurd guess took shape in her mind.

They are taking her blood. They are using her blood to pave the way for Tao Yao, to secure her favor, and to gain Xie Xun's pity and the Lady of the Marquis's favor.

Afu's fingertips slowly tightened, digging into her palm.

She used to think that she was just a passerby who would leave the manor soon, so what did all this infighting in the inner quarters have to do with her? She figured she could just endure it and it would pass.

But at this moment, as she looked down at the two cuts made under her sleeve, she suddenly realized that in this Marquis's mansion, no one would let her off the hook just because "you're leaving soon."

If she continues to wait passively like this, she might not live to see the day she is redeemed.

Sean-in, main house study.

The candlelight flickered on the rosewood desk, casting a long shadow of Xie Xun. Brownish dregs remained in the empty medicine bowl beside him.

Changsong entered silently from outside the door: "Master, Granny Wang, who guards the Buddhist hall, has confessed. She's the one who scratched Miss Afu."

Xie Xun didn't respond, as if he wasn't surprised by the result.

Changsong paused for a moment: "That old woman said that her daughter was sold off in the small kitchen a few days ago, and she held a grudge. Last night, when no one was in the Buddhist hall, she wanted to teach Miss Afu a lesson."

Xie Xun's fingers, which were turning the pages of the book, paused for a moment.

"The method of revenge was too obvious," he said calmly. "Where did she go after leaving the Buddhist hall?"

"The servants' quarters, the Ci'an Courtyard, and... the Luoqi Garden."

Upon hearing the last three words, Xie Xun's fingertips paused on the page.

A moment later, he closed the book, his voice devoid of emotion: "Let her out and see who's behind her."

Changsong bowed his head: "Yes, I will go right away."

Xie Xun nodded and was about to turn the page when a sudden burning sensation rose in his chest. He frowned and pressed his hand to his heart.

Changsong immediately stepped forward and said, "Young Master?"

Xie Xun recovered. He didn't look up, but just waved his hand, telling him to leave.